Symphonic Music, Opera and Ballet are alike in that you have to "lean in" to appreciate them. I would probably take someone to a comedy for their first non-Nut ballet. But I wouldn't take them to see Raymonda or Onegin.

On the other hand, I've encouraged friends to come to the ballet with me, and they've responded "Well I saw the Mariinsky version of Swan Lake when I was in London, and since I've seen the best of the best, I don't see the point in going to a lesser production".

I've seen all but Korbes/Cruz so far, but you can go wrong with any of these casts. This may be the most depth for a major classical ballerina role that I've seen the Company field. (Sadly, it's too late to see Chapman/Tisserand.)

Last night we had a bit of unintended excitement: Peter Boal did a front-of-curtain announcement that Casey Herd had an injury and Batkhurel Bold would be Imler's partner. to Bold. There's only a pause between Acts III and IV, and I'm guessing Boyd Bender worked some PT magic during Act III, because Herd reappeared for Act IV, which has a long PDD for Odette and Siegfried. Only Herd appeared at the curtain call. (Perhaps they shared the same costume?)

Carrie Imler is a national treasure.....and did she ever shine and sparkle last night. It may have been the most fantastic performance I have ever seen of anything. And to think she is ours, all ours. I worship at her feet. There are dancers, and then there are artists who dance. Last night Carrie was all art. I had the feeling I was seeing something that is simply not possible on this earth. Brava to this extraordinary artist!

Carrie Imler is a national treasure.....and did she ever shine and sparkle last night. It may have been the most fantastic performance I have ever seen of anything. And to think she is ours, all ours. I worship at her feet. There are dancers, and then there are artists who dance. Last night Carrie was all art. I had the feeling I was seeing something that is simply not possible on this earth. Brava to this extraordinary artist!

I'm still bummed out that we New Yorkers didn't see her in anything real.

The Sunday night performance (tomorrow) is a non-subscription performance, and there are usually great tickets to be had for them that are normally assigned to subscribers. I had a prime Orchestra seat this afternoon, another non-subscription performance.

Carrie Imler is a national treasure.....and did she ever shine and sparkle last night. It may have been the most fantastic performance I have ever seen of anything. And to think she is ours, all ours. I worship at her feet. There are dancers, and then there are artists who dance. Last night Carrie was all art. I had the feeling I was seeing something that is simply not possible on this earth. Brava to this extraordinary artist!

On Friday night, Imler performed that sequence almost exactly like she did in the video, which was also linked up te page of this thread. (PNB tweeted earlier in the week that there were already 4K views.) There were some singles in the middle, then back to back single-single-double with arms overhead.

The sequence is indeed formidable, but the truly impressive thing is that she's doing it all for a reason -- to pull Siegfried into her net. Bakthurel Bold was her partner for that act, and he was well and truly caught up in the arc of her performance.